Schick returns and matches Berbatov's level.

Number 69: Patrik Schick's 3-0 win against Heidenheim put the Czech striker level with Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the all-time top scorers list of foreign Bayer Leverkusen players. IMAGO/Chai vd Laage

Patrik Schick scored the opening goal with his powerful left foot. From a tight angle, the Czech international placed the ball firmly and precisely into the bottom right corner in the 2nd minute. When it comes to finishing technique, the 30-year-old is hard to beat. Whether with his foot or his head, Schick is a precision shooter.

Schick owed his second goal in the 6-0 victory against FC Heidenheim entirely to his insatiable hunger for goals, a trait that drives every striker. After a cross from Jonas Hofmann , which Heidenheim's goalkeeper Diant Ramaj and FCH defender Patrick Mainka both attempted to clear, the ball would have crossed the line even without Schick's intervention. The goalkeeper had deflected the ball in such a way that it rebounded off his teammate towards the empty net. But the Czech striker pounced and, practically from the goal line, forced the ball into the back of the net. The chance had an xGoals value of 0.995, meaning it was only theoretically possible to miss it.

With his brace and his golden goal as a substitute in the 1-0 victory at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, Schick has made his comeback, having had to watch during his enforced break as the young Christian Kofane (19) took his chance after suffering a thigh injury at the end of September.

So impressively, in fact, that Schick is no longer the undisputed number one striker, but has to fight for his place. This was demonstrated by coach Kasper Hjulmand's starting eleven decision in Lisbon, when the Dane gave preference to Kofane.

Everyone knows what a good player Dimitar was. Of course, it's something special for me.

Schick's two goals against Heidenheim were therefore important for the striker's internal standing. His long stride, with which he scored the third goal against FCH, also had statistical significance. It was the 69th goal the center forward had scored for the club in the Bundesliga. With that, the prolific striker equaled Dimitar Berbatov , who until then had been the sole record holder for most goals scored by a foreign player in Bayer 04's Bundesliga history.

Schick has now moved up to fourth place in the club's all-time top scorers list. "Everyone knows what a good player Dimitar was. Of course, it's something special for me. We still have many games left – I want to climb even higher in this ranking," Schick explained after the 6-0 win against Heidenheim.

Third place is within reach for the striker this season. Currently held by Herbert Waas with 72 goals, this position is very close to being claimed by Schick. He is therefore very close to joining the top three among Leverkusen's top scorers. However, a further climb to second place, or even first, is a long way off: Stefan Kießling and Ulf Kirsten are far ahead of Schick in those positions. Kießling boasts 131 Bundesliga goals, while Kirsten has an impressive 181.

While the 62-goal deficit to Kießling seems large but not unattainable given the Czech's contract extension until 2030 in the summer, Kirsten's record, which is 112 goals higher, is likely to remain one for eternity, at least from Schick's point of view.